Cord severing instrument



March 5, 1935. e. T. HART ET AL CORD SEVERING INSTRUMENT Filed July 28,1932 gmwomw UHOY'HQ Patented Mar. 5, 1935 PATENT OFFICE CORD SEVERINGINSTRUMENT George T. Hart, Falls City, Nebr., and Julius Severus,Downers Grove, 11]., assignors to Western Instrument & Manufacturing00., Chicago,

I 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 28, 1932, Serial No.625,302

16 Claims.

This invention relates to instruments of the ype adapted for use forapplying heavy pressure at opposite sides of a cord or other part of ananimal for severing the cord, and particularly for use for severing thespermatic cord of an animal by pressure applied through the walls of thepouch without the necessity for any external cutting. It is one ofthe'objects of the invention to provide a new and improved form andarrangement of parts by which the cord when placed in position betweenthe pressure jaws may be held in the desired operative position. To thisend, it. is one of the objects of the invention to provide an improvedarrangement by which one of the pressure jaws is given a slight angularmovement in one direction with respect to the other jaw in the course ofthe movement of the two jaws toward each other whereby the free ends ofthe jaws are first brought into pre- 20 liminary gripping relation, andthe movable jaw is then given an angular movement in the oppositedirection into the final operative position.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide I an arrangement ofthis type in which the frictional engagement of certain of the mountinglinks with the parts upon which they are pivotally mounted is ofassistance in the matter of bringing the movable jaw to its angularpreliminary gripping position, and in which such fric- 0 tionalengagement serves normally to prevent turning of the movable jaw out ofsuch preliminary angular position except as the jaw is turned by theapplication of pressure positively thereto after all lost motion hasbeen taken up.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide an arrangementcomprising adjustable stop means by which the closing movement of thejaws may be limited so as to make a single device suitable for use withdifferent sized animals, thus making it unnecessary to include more thanone instrument in the equipment of a stock farm.

It is another object of the invention to improve devices of this typeinsundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which theseveral objects are accomplished are illustrated in the drawing and arehereinafter specifically described. That which is believed to be new andis sought to be covered by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a face view of the improved device forming the subject matterof this application, with the handle portions broken away.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l. but showing the parts in changedposition, with the movable jaw in its preliminary angular position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 but with the movable jaw inits final operative position;

and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section taken at line 4-4 of Fig. 3. I

Referring now to the several figures of the drawing, in whichcorresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, 10indi- 10 cates a jaw member having an arm 11 connected with the rear endof the jaw and extending downwardly therefrom, such arm 11 beingconnected by an obliquely disposed portion 12 with a handle l3, all ofsuch parts in the construction shown 15 being formed integrally witheach other. A second transversely disposed jaw member 14 is movablyconnected with the jaw member 10 by means of a pair of links 15 atopposite faces of the device, said links 15 being pivotally connectedwith the arm 11 by means of a bolt 16 and pivotally connected with thejaw member 14 by means of a bolt 17, the arrangement being such that thejaw member 14 is movable up and down toward and from the jaw member 10along the arm 11. A second set of links 18 are also provided at oppositefaces of the device, pivotally connected with the arm 11 by means of abolt 19 and pivotally connected with the jaw member 14 by means of abolt 20, the bolt 19 being substantially directly below the bolt 16,while the bolt 20 is located considerably closer to the end of the jawmember 14 than is the bolt 17.

For moving the jaw member 14 toward and from the jaw member 10, a handlemember 21 is provided, pivotally connected with the obliquely disposedportion 12 of the handle 13 by means of a bolt 22, the upper end of thehandle 21 being in the form of a yoke so as to receive the handle 13 andpart 12 therein. At its upper end the handle '21 is provided with a link23 pivotally connected thereto by means of a bolt 24, the upper end ofthe link 23 being in the form of a yoke connected by means of a bolt 25with the jaw member 14. In the arrangement shown, the bolt 25 is locatedsubstantially directly below-the bolt 17 and directly opposite the bolt20.

Stop means is providedfor limiting the movement of the handles 21 and 13toward each other, comprising a set screw 26 secured by means of screwthreads in the handle member 21 transversely thereof so as to engage thehandle member 13 as is best shown in Fig. 3, serving thus to limit themovement of the handle members toward each other. The set screw isprovided with a lock-nut 27 for securing the screw in the desiredadjusted position.

In the arrangement shown, the bolts 16, 1'7, 22, 24 and 25 are allarranged so as to be tightened securely in position without applyingpressure against the parts pivotally connected by means of such bolts.The bolts 19 and 20 are arranged, howevenso as to tighten the links 18firmly byfriction against the opposite faces of the jaw member 14 andthe arm 11 when such bolts are tightened in position.

With the bolts 19 and 20 tightened in position so as to apply africtional grip upon the jaw 14 and the arm 11, and with thescrew 26adjusted to permit movement of the handles 13 and 21 to the limit oftheir motion, when the movable jaw 14 is moved downwardly into theposition shown in Fig. 1, the jaw member 14 preferably stands inslightly angular position with respect to the jaw member 10. Thearrangement is such that when pressure is applied upwardly to themovable jaw 14 through the link 23, the links 18 have-a tendency to dragby reason of their frictional engagement with the arm 11, serving toprovide a downward pull on the jaw member 14 at the end portion adjacentto the arm 11. At the same time, the frictional engagement between the.links 18 and the movable jaw 14 has aatendency to swing the movable jawinto angular position with respect to the jaw 10 as the links moveupwardly. At the same time there is I10 appreciable tendency for causingthe movable ,jaw 14 to swing in'the opposite'direction out 'of. suchpreliminary-angular position with respect ito the jaw 10. The result isthat when the movable jaw 14 reachesapproximately the end of its upwardmovement into the position as shown in Fig. 2 the movable jaw 14 has'efiective pressure relationship with the jaw 10 initially at the free:end portions only of said jaws. The arrangement is such that uponcontinued-upward movement of, the :movable jaw member by means of thelink 23 the movable jaw member is caused to swing in counter clock-wisedirection in Fig. 2 into substantially parallel relation to the jaw 10as shown in Fig. 3, the pressure applied positively through the link 23serving to overcome the pressure applied by friction through the links18.

The frictional effectof the tightened engagement of the links 18 withthe arm 11 and'the jaw member 14 is normally sufficient for taking upall lost motion in the connections between the jaw 14 :and the jaw 10for holding the parts in the position as shown in Fig. 2 with ,jawsconverging forwardly as the movable jaw approaches the jaw 10. Undersuch conditions the links 15 .are under compression while the links 18are under tension. When the power is applied to the movable jaw :14 formoving it from its prelim- :inary position as shown in Fig. 2 into itsfinal operative position as shown in .Fig. 3, such power is appliedsubstantially vertically, or at right angles with respect to the tensionlongitudinally of the links 18 and the compression longitudinally of thelinks .15. Under such conditions, the frictional resistance with respectto such final movement of the member 14 is very great so as to require acomparatively heavy pressure upwardly through the link 23 for swingingthe movable jaw into its final position as shown in Fig. ,3. In thearrangement shown, when the jaw member 1.4 moves into its finaloperative position .the longitudinal pressure conditions in connectionwith the links 15-.and 18 are reversed so that the links 18 are undercompression and the links 15 are under tension.

With the arrangement of the device as illustrated and as abovedescribed, an operator can readily apply the device in position and holdthe cord in position until the free end portions of the jaws havereached an effective pressure relationship by which the cord is keptfrom slipping out of position between the jaws. The operator is thenfree to employ both hands to advantage for applying the requiredpressure upon the handles 13 and 21.

As will be readily understood, by an adjustment of the set-screw 26 themovement of the jaw '14 toward the .jaw 10 can be limited and controlledso as to limit the eilective action of the device to correspond to thesize of the parts operated upon. By the provision of this arrangement, asingle device can be used to advantage for all of the various uses towhich a device of this type is normally put, it being thusunnecessary toprovide more than a single device as complete equipment for a stockfarm.

In the above description and in the claims, the arm 11 is described asbeing extended downwardly from the end of the jaw 10, and the otherparts are describedcorrespondingly. It is to be underbination of a jawmember, a second jaw member, means for moving said second jaw membertoward and from said first named jaw member,

and means adapted to exert effective pressure on said second jaw memberfor causing the face of said jaw normally to stand in substantiallyfixed angular position converging toward its free end with respect tothe face of the other jaw as said second jaw member is moved toward saidfirst named jaw member and adapted when said jaws are brought intoeffective pressure relationship at their free end portions to yield forpermitting said second jaw member to swing under pressure through asubstantial angle into substantially parallel relation to said firstnamed jaw member.

2. In a device of the type described, the combination of a jaw member. asecond jaw member, means for moving said second jaw member toward andfrom said first named jaw member, link means swingingly mounted withrespect to said jaw members so as to permit said second jaw member tomove toward and from said first named jaw member, and other link meansswingingly mounted with respect to said jaw members on axes in spacedrelation to the axes on which said first named link means is mountedadapted normally to exert effective pressure on said second jaw memberfor causing its face to stand in convergent position toward its free endwith respect to the face of the other jaw when said second jaw member ismoved toward said first named jaw member and adapted when said jaws arebrought into effective pressure relationship at their free end portionsto permit said second jaw member to swing under pressureintosubstantially parallel relationship to said first named jaw member.

3. In a device of the type-described, the comadapted normally to exertefiective pressure on said second jaw member for causing its face tostand in convergent position toward its free end with respect to theface of the other jaw when said second jaw member is moved toward saidfirst named jaw member andadapted when said jaws are brought intoeffective pressurerelationship at their free end portions to permit saidsecond jaw member to swing under pressure into substantially parallelrelationship to said first named jaw member.

4. In a device of the type described, the combination of 'a-transverselydisposed jaw member, an arm extending downwardlyfrom one end por tion ofsaid jaw member, a second jaw member movable upwardly and downwardlyalong said arm toward and from said first named jaw mem ber,transversely disposed link means pivotally connected with said secondjaw member and with said arm, means bearing on said second jaw member ata point substantially directly below the pivotal connection of said linkmeans to said second jaw member for forcingsaid jaw member toward saidfirst named jaw member, and other link means pivotally connected withsaid second jaw member and said arm below said first named link meansadapted normally to exert effective pressure on said second jaw memberfor causing its face to stand in convergent position toward its free endwith respect to theface of the other'jaw when said second jaw member ismoved toward said first named jaw member and adapted when said jaws arebrought into eiiective pressure'relationship at their free end portionsto permit said second jaw member to swing under pressure intosubstantially parallel relationship to said first named jaw member. f V

5. In a device of the typedesoribed, the com;- bination of atransversely disposed jaw member, an arm extending downwardly from oneend portion of said jaw member, a second jaw member movable upwardly anddownwarclly along said arm towardand from said first named jaw member,transversely disposedlink means pivotally connected with said second jawmember and with said arm, means bearing on said second jaw member at apoint substantially directly below the pivotal connection of said linkmeans to said second jaw member for forcing said jaw member toward saidfirst named jaw member, and other link means below saidfirst named linkmeans pivotally connected at one end with said arm and pivotallyconnected at the opposite end with said second jaw member at a point onsaid secondjaw member located between said arm and the point where saidfirst named link means is connected with said second jaw memberandadapted normally to exert effective pressure on-said second jawmemberfor causing its face to standin convergent position toward itsfree end with respect to the face of the other jaw when said second jawmember is moved toward said first named jaw member and adapted when saidjaws are brought into effective pressure relationship at-their free endportions to :permitsaid secondjawfmember to swing under pressure intosubstantially parallel relationship to said first named jaw member.

'6. In a device of the type described, the com bination of ajaw member,a'second jaw member, P

means for moving said second jaw member toward and from said first namedjaw member, link means swingingly mounted with respect to said jawmembersso as to permit said second jaw member to move toward and fromsaid first named jaw member, and other link means swingingly mountedwith respect to said jaw members on in spaced relation to the axesonwhich said first named link means is mounted, the arrangemerit beingsuch that normally upon'movement of said second jaw member toward saidlfirst named jaw member one of said link means is.

under tension and the other link means is under compressionfor holdingsaid jaws in convergent position toward their vfree ends until the ifree endportions of the jaws are brought into pressure relationship toeach other and thatupon continued' movement the longitudinal pressureconditions in connectionwith said links are reversed and said second jawmember is permitted under pressure to swing into substantially parallelrelation to said first named jaw member.

"7. Ina device of the type described, the combination of a jaw member, asecond jaw member, means for moving said second jaw member toward andfrom said first named jaw member, link means swingingly mounted withrespect to said jaw members so as to permit said second jaw member tomove'toward and from. said first named jaw member, and other linkmeansswingingly mounted with respect to said jaw members on axes inspacedrelation to the axes onwhich said first named link means ismounted, the arrangement being such that one of said swingingly mountedlink means is adaptedby frictional engagement with the connected partsto exerteiiective pressure on said second jaw member for causing itsface to stand in convergent position toward its free end with respecttothe faceof'the other jaw when saidsecondjaw member is moved toward saidfirst named jaw member and adapted when said jaws are brought intoeffective pres sure relationship at their free end portions topermitsaid second jaw member to swing under pressure, into substantiallyparallel relationship to said first named jaw member. 1

8. In a device of the type described, the combination of a jaw member; asecond jaw member. means for moving said second'j aw member toward andfrom said first named jaw member, link means swingingly mounted withrespect to said jaw members so as to permit said second jaw member'tomove toward and from said first named jaw member, and other link meansswingingly mounted with respect to said jaw members on axes in spacedrelation to the axes on which said'first jaw member toward said firstnamed jaw member:

serving to cause the face of said second jaw mam-- her to stand inconvergent position toward its free end with respect to the faceof theother jaw when said second jaw member is movedtoward said first namedjaw member and adaptedwhen said jaws are brought into effective pressurerelationship at their free end portions to permit said second jaw memberto swing under pressure into substantially parallel relationship to saidfirst named jaw member.

9. In a device of the type described, the combination of a jaw member, asecond jaw member, means for moving said second jaw member toward andfrom said first named jaw member, link means swingingly mounted withrespect to said jaw members so as to permit said second jaw member tomove toward and from said first named jaw member, and other link meansswingingly mounted with respect to said jaw members on axes in spacedrelation to the axes on which said first named link means is mounted,the arrangement being such that one of said pivotally mounted link.means is adapted normally by frictional engagement with the movable jawmember to oppose swinging movement of said jaw member with respect tothe link means serving as said second jaw member is moved toward saidfirst named jaw member to cause the face of said second jaw member tostand in convergent position toward its free end with respect to theface of the other jaw and adapted when said jaws are brought intoeffective pressure relationship at their free end portions to permitsaid second jaw member to swing under pressure into substantiallyparallel relationship to said first named jaw member.

10. In a device of the type described, the combination of a transverselydisposed jaw member, an arm extending downwardly from one end por tionof said jaw member, a second jaw member movable upwardly and downwardlyalong said arm toward and from said first named jaw member, transverselydisposed link means pivotally connected with said second jaw member andwith said arm, means bearing on said second jaw member at a pointsubstantially directly below the pivotal connection of said link meansto said second jaw member for forcing said jaw member toward said firstnamed jaw member, and other link means pivotally connected with saidsecond jaw member and said arm below said first named link means andadapted normally by frictional engagement with the connected parts toexert effective pressure on said second jaw member for causing its faceto stand in convergent position toward its free end with respect to theface of the other jaw when said second jaw member is moved toward saidfirst named jaw member and,

adapted when said jaws are brought into efiective pressure relationshipat their free end portions to permit said second jaw member to swingunder pressure into substantially parallel relationship to said firstnamed jaw member.

11. In a device of the type described, the combination of a transverselydisposed jaw member, an arm extending downwardly from one end portion ofsaid jaw member, a second jaw member movable upwardly and downwardlyalong said arm toward and from said first named jaw member, transverselydisposed link means pivotally connected with said second jaw member andwith said arm, means bearing on said second jaw member at a pointsubstantially directly below the pivotal connection of said link meansto said second jaw member for forcing said jaw member toward said firstnamed jaw member, and other link means below said first named link meanspivotally connected at one endwith said arm and pivotally connected atthe opposite end with said second jaw member at a point on said secondjaw member located between said arm and the point where said first namedlink means is connected with said second jaw member and adapted normallyby frictional engagement with the connected parts to-exert effectivepressure on said second jaw member for causing its face to stand inconvergent position toward its free end with respect to the face of theother jaw when said second jaw member is moved toward said first namedjaw member and adapted when said jaws are brought into effectivepressure relationship at their free end portions to permit said secondjaw member to swing under pressure into substan* tially parallelrelationship to said first named jaw member.

12. In a device of the type described, the combination of a jaw member,a second jaw member, means for moving said second jaw member toward andfrom said first named jaw member, link means swingingly mounted withrespect to said jaw members so as to permit said second jaw member tomove toward and from said first named jaw member, and other link meansswingingly mounted with respect to said jaw members on axes in spacedrelation to the axes on which said first named link means is mounted,said other link means being adapted by frictional engagement with itsconnected parts normally to cause one of said link means to be undertension and the other link means to be under compression when saidsecond jaw member is moved toward said first named jaw member forholding said jaws in convergent position toward their free ends untilthe free end portions of the jaws are brought into pressure relationshipto each other and adapted upon further continued movement of the secondjaw member toward said first named jaw member to, cause the longitudinalpressure conditions in connection with said links to be reversed and topermit said second jaw member to swing under pressure into substantiallyparallel relation to said first named jaw member.

13. In a device of the type described, the combination of a jaw member,a second jaw member, means for moving said second jaw member toward andfrom said first named jaw member, and means providing an articulatedconnection between said jaw members at their rear ends adapted normallyto hold said second jaw member by yielding pressure thereon inapproximately fixed angular position with respect to said first namedjaw member throughout its limited movement toward said first named jawmember prior to effective pressure relationship of said jaw members butarranged with a limited amount of play in the connections for permittingthe second jaw member to swing into parallelism with said first namedjaw member at the end of its operative stroke.

14. In a device of the type described, the combination of two handlemembers pivotally connected together, a jaw member carried by one ofsaid handle members transversely thereof, a

second jaw member, link means pivotally connected at one end with theother of said handle members and pivotally connected at its other endwith said second jaw member for moving said second jaw member toward andfrom said first named jaw member when either handle member is swungtoward and from the other handle member, and connections between saidsecond jaw member and said one handle member having a limited amount ofplay therein permitting a slight angular movement of said second jawmember as it approaches said first named jaw member and comprising meanshaving a frictional engagement with said'second jaw member adaptednormally to hold said second jaw member turned to the limit of itsangular motion in the direction for causing said jaw members to convergetoward the free end of said first named jaw member as said jaw membersare moved toward each other. 15. In a device of the type described, thecombination of a jaw member, a second jaw member; means for moving saidsecond jaw member toward and from said first named jaw member, and meansadapted normally by a frictional engagement with one of said jaw membersto hold said second jaw member preliminarily in convergent positiontoward its free end with respect to the first named jaw member whenmoved toward said first named jaw member and adapted upon continuedmovement by yielding with respect to said frictional holding effect topermit said second jaw member to swing under pres-sure intosubstantially parallel relation to said first named jaw member.

jaw member and at its opposite end with said armv adapted normally by ayielding pressure on said second jaw member at the start of its closingmovement from its fully opened position to cause 1 said second jawmember to converge toward its free end with said-first named jaw memberand adapted as movement of said second jaw member toward said firstnamed jaw member continues to resist swinging movement of the second jawmember out of said converging position with respect to said first namedjaw member.

G. T. HART.

JULIUS SEVERUS.

